ABSTRACT
In this study, 11 patients affected by rheumatic mitral valve disease and chronic atrial fibrillation underwent mitral valve surgery and radiofrequency [RF] ablation. The mean duration of atrial fibrillation [AF] was 3.6 +/- 1.2 years. A control group [no RF] included 11 patients underwent mitral valve surgery only during the same period. RF endocardial ablation was performed under temperature control after left atriotomy. RF pulses were delivered in order to obtain a circumferential isolation of each pulmonary vein alone without any additional lines. Firstly, all patients received a loading dose of amiodarone in the early postoperative period, followed by a maintenance dose of 200 mg/day for three months. It was concluded that circumferential isolation of each pulmonary vein [PV] in patients with chronic AF undergoing mitral valve surgery is a feasible, safe and effective procedure in restoring sinus rhythm [SR] at an average follow-up period of six months